Head-rest.



F. VANEK.

HEAD REST. APPLICATION FILED MILS, |9417.

PatentedAug, 7, 1917..

I r 'l "a f/ SAS .OF PELL CITY, ALABAMA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF 'IO WALTER S.

CRUMP, OF SEDDON, ALABAMA.

HEAD-REST.

ineens?.

vSpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented Ano'. 7, 1917.

Application filed Jenuarf)T 8, 1917. Serial No. 14 1,218.

To all fr/wm t may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK VANEK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pell City, in the county of Saint Clair and State of Alabama, have invented a new and useful Head-Rest, of which the following is a specification.

rlhis invention relates specifically to headrests for sleeping` cars, but generically it comprehends Va wider ranpge of usefulness, being capable of use wherever two parts or members, one movable and the other stationary, are designed to be adjusted in two or more positions.

In the specific embodiment shown, the object is to provide a head-rest having' means for supporting` the same in approximate alinement with the usual back cushionof a sleeping car seat, when the same is in a position for day travel, so that the head of a passenger may be properly supported while in a sitting' posture, and to provide means in said head-rest supports for permitting swingingmovements of the head-rest to an approximately horizontal position and to support the saine therein, 'in order to form a shelf for supporting' wearing; apparel or other articles, when the seat is made into a berth for night travel.

Another object is to provide a head-rest which may be readily detached, as a whole from the seat, for the purpose of cleansing, steaming', or otherwise renovating', in order to maintain the same in a sanitary condition, and which may be as readily attached to and securelv supported between the end members of a car or other seat in either of the desired positions.

A full and complete understanding' of the invention may be obtained from a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming` a part of this specification; it bein.;` understood that while the drawings show a practical form of the invention and one adaptation thereof, the invention is not confined to strict conformity therewith, but may be changed or modified, so long; as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention, as specificallypointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings in which like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in each of the several figures:

Figure l is a side view of the improved device, shown applied to a seat in headresting position, the seat frame being,r partly in section with the near end member removed.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view, showing the head-rest in dotted lines, in a position to form a shelf, the section beine' taken on the opposite side to that shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken alone; the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, and lookingl in the direction indicated bv the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the stationary member of the improved device.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the movable member thereof.

llhile the device of the present application is shown as applied to a head-rest for cars, it will be apparent that the same is equally as well adapted for use elsewhere, as for instance, to support the seats in theaters, or other places of amusement, where it is generally necessary to tilt the same from a sitting; position to a vertical position to permit the passage .of persons between the rows thereof. It may be used generally for coupling;` or connecting' articles of furniture where it is necessary to remove parts for cleaning; and may be employed on automobile windshields to hold the same in either a horizontal or a vertical position.

In the specific embodiment shown in the drawing', the upper portion of an ordinary Pullman car seat has been illustrated, the wall l forming a partition between the two seats facing to the front and the rear, respectively, as is customary in seats of this character. The usual inner and outer end boards Q are employed at the ends of the seat and, in the use of the present invention, are designed to support certain members for coaction with certain other members which are secured to the ends of the headrest to be described. Since the head-rest extends entirely across the back of the seat from one end board 2 to the other, it is necessary to form the parts in right and left hand formation, and a description of one will suffice for both herein, the same reference characters being applied to similar parts on each end of the head-rest.

The usual back cushion 3, a portion of which is shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, is adapted, when the seat is to be converted into a berth, to assume the ordinary position of seats of this character, and no attempt has been made to show the construction of nor the means for manipulating the same herein.

The partition 1 is provided along its top edge and in alinement with the tops of the end boards 2, with a seat back molding 4, having a groove 5 formed along its top face for the purpose of guiding and supporting a removable head board 6, which is adapted to be placed in position within the groove 5 when it is desired to convert the seat into upper and lower berths, all of which is of the ordinary construction. rlhe head-rest 7 is adapted to normally rest between the end boards 2 and to pass freely therebetween, to permit of its ready introduction into certain supporting means to be described, and to allow of its movement from a head resting position, as indicated in Fig. 1, to that shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, wherein the same has been swung out of its normal position to allow of more head room for a rccumbent passenger when the scat has been converted into a berth, and to thus form a Shelf for supporting wearing apparel, or other articles. The head-rest 7 is of a thickness substantially equal to the thickness of the back cushion 3 and extends from the top thereof to the bottom of the molding fl, and, as the said head-rest may be formed in any convenient manner to fulfil the requirements thereof, no attempt has been made to show or describe its exact construction.

A suitable base member 8 is provided upon which to build the necessary cushioning means `for the head-rest, and is adapted to have secured to its ends a pair of members in the form of castings 9, which are similarly, though oppositely, formed for use upon the right and left hand ends of the said head-rest 7. These castings are adapted to coact with a pair of similar members in the form of castings 10, likewise formed in a right and left hand manner, and adapted to be secured upon the inner opposing faces of the end boards 2, in direct alinement with each other and in a proper position to receive certain parts of the aforementioned castings 9 carried by the headerest proper. The casting 9 carried by the head-rest 7 may thus properly be termed a movable member, while the casting 10 rigidly secured to the end boards 2 'may be termed a stationary member. From another view point, the casting 9 may be called the male member of the coupling or connection, and the casting 10 the female member.

Screws 11, or other similar fastening means, are employed to secure the casting 9 to the base member 8 of the headrest, and similar fastening means 12 are employed to secure the casting 10 in its proper position upon the inner faces of the end boards 2. The stationary members are each provided with somewhat widened upper end portions, and an inwardly extending arcuate flange or wall 13 is provided on said widened portions of the stationary members 10. This upper flange or wall is formed integral with the stationary member 10 and has its outer face flush with the edge of said member and its inner arcuate face formed concentric with an upstanding pivotal support or lug 14 formed adjacent to the front edge of the member 10, and connected to the arcuate flange or wall 13 by a curved'lower flange or wall"15. The lower flange or wall 15 is somewhat thinner than the upper flange orV wall whereby a substantially horizontal shoulder 16 is provided at the point of juncture ofthe two ianges or walls, said shoulder lying approximately in a horizontal plane with the pivotalsupport or lug 14.

A pocket or keeper 17 is thus formed on the inner faces of the stationary members 10, which pocket or keeper is partially surrounded by the flange or walls 13 and 15. An entrance opening or mouth 18 is provided adjacent to the front edge of the stationary members 10, between the pivotal support 14 and the front terminal of the arcuate flange 13, for the purpose of permitting the introduction and manipulation of certain parts carried by the movable members 9, which will be described. A downwardly extending stop rib 19 is provided at the front terminal of the arcuate flange 13, and is adapted to coact with the pivotal support 14; to prevent the head-rest from accidental dislodgment when the latter` is in its lowered position, as will be later ex plained.

The movable members 9 carried by the head-rest, are in like manner enlarged at 20, and are provided at said enlargement upon their outer faces with arcuately formed lugs or supporting hooks 21, which are adapted to coact with the above described parts of the stationary members 10, to support and lock the head-rest 7 in the position indicated in Fig. 1, or to maintain, in like manner, the head-rest in the position indi.- cated in Fig. 2, and to permit at any time, the withdrawal of the head-rest and the members 9 thereon from its position between the end boards 2, for the purpose of cleansing or renovating the said head-rest, for sanitary reasons.

The lugs or hooks 21 are provided at their ends adjacent to the enlarged end of the member 9 with noses 22 and curved inner faces 23 formed on an arc substantially the same as the curvature of the lower wall 15 Vof the pocket or keeper carried by the stationary members 10. Seats 24 and 25 are provided on the inner or lower faces of the lugs or hooks 21, and are in the form of recesses sufficiently large to receive the pivotal support 14 and to permit of a free rocking movement thereon. The lugs or hooks 21 extend a short distance beyond the seat 25, in the direction of the reduced end of the member 9, and are there provided with rounded terminals, as indicated at 26.

VIn setting up the head-rest of the present invention, it is only necessary to properly locate the stationary members 10 upon the inner faces of the end boards 2 and adjacent their upper ends in close relation to the partition 1. lith the movable members 9 properly secured to the end edges of the base' member 8 of the head-rest 7, in order to assemble the parts in a position to form a head-rest, as indicated in Fig. 1, introduce the nose ends 22 of the lugs or hooks 21 into the entrance opening 18 between the downwardly extending rib 19 and `the pivotal support 14e until the first seat 24 is in a position to receive the said pivotal support 14, and then allow the head-rest 7 to drop into position, when the noses 22 will strike the inner faces of the ribs 19, and theI rounded ends 26 of the lugs or hooks 21 will 'bear against the outwardly extending stop lug 27 of the fla-nge or wall 15 and thus support the head-rest 7 in position. That portion 28 of the lugs or hooks 21 in advance of the seats 2-1 extends somewhat below the pivotal member 14, and coacts with the noses 22 bearing against the ribs 19 to prevent the separation of the members 9 and 10. rlhus, the headrest 7 is prevented from becoming dislodged from its support.

ln order to change the position of the head-rest to that indicated in Fig. 2, it is only necessary to lift outwardly and upwardly on the lower portion of the headrest 7, thus causing the lug or hook 21 to rock on the pivotal support 14, the latter being seated in the recess 211, then to shove inwardly, thereby engaging the seat 25 with the support 14 and forcing the nos-es 22 beneath the shoulders 16. In this position the part between the seats 24 and 25 abuts against the inner faces of the pivotal sup ports 141- and prevents the head-rest 7 from being drawn outwardly.

To entirely rem ve the head-rest 7 from its position between the end boards 2, it is only necessary to elevate the outer ends of the head-restI` when in the position shown in Fig. 2, in order to free the extending parts of the lug 21 from the pivotal support 14, when the former may be freely withdrawn from its engagement with the stationary members 10.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that means for adjustably and removably securing a head-rest or similar device to its supporuing means has been provided, which is extremely simple in its construction, thus rendering it apable of manufacture at a very low cost, and which will permit of the necessary functions without the necessity of an)7 complicated manipulation. There being no intricate parts to become worn or broken, the device will last indefinitely, and at the same time, the members 9 and 10 may be easily applied in their proper positions by any ordinary mechanic.

The application of my invention to the other uses mentioned will be apparent from the foregoing.

lVhat is claimed is :H-

1. A device of the class described, comprising a stationary member having a keeper provided thereon with an entrance to said keeper, said keeper having a pivotal support at the said ent-rance and a shoulder spaced from said support substantially in alinement therewith, and a movable member having a hook with a seat to be engaged by said pivotal support, said hook engaging with the shoulder to hold the two members in a position at an angle to each other, said movable member being separable from said stationary member by withdrawing the hook through `said entrance.

2. A device of the class described com prising two members adapted to be supported at an angle to each other, or folded one upon the other, or removable one from the other, comprising a stationary member having a keeper formed thereon and having a shoulder, a stop above the shoulder, and a pivotal support below and spaced from the stop, and a movable member having a hook adapted to be inserted between the stop and the pivotal support and to be engaged with said shoulder with a seat to be engaged by the pivotal support, said stop being engaged by the said hook when the two members are folded one upon the other.

3. A device of the class described ceinprising a stationary member having a keeper provided thereon, with an entrance to said keeper, said keeper having a pivotal sup port at the said entrance, and a shoulder spaced from said support and in substantial al inem-ent therewith, and a movable member having a hook with a pair of seats, one of said seats being engaged with the pivotal support with the end of the hook in engage-- ment with the shoulder to hold the two members in a position at an angle to each other, the other seat being engaged with the pivotal support when the two members are in alinement with each other, the hook of said movable member being removable from the keeper of the stationary member through said entrance.

4. A device of the class described comprisino' a stationary member having a keeper formed thereon, said keeper including a pivotal support at the entrance thereof, a stop also at the entrance and spaced above the pivotal support, and a shoulder also spaced from the pivotal support and substantially in alinement therewith, and a movable member having a hook with a pair of' seats, either one of which is adapted to be engaged by the pivotal support, said hook when the pivotal support is engaged with the outer one of said seats being in engagement with said shoulder to hold the two members at an angle to each other` and said hook when the other seat is engaged with the pivotal support being then in contact with said stop so as to hold the two i embers substantially in alinement with each other, said members being separable by withdrawing the hook through the entrance of the keeper located between the pivot: l support and said stop.

5. Supporting means comprising` a. fixed member and a movable member, each having means for attachment to applied parts, the former being provided with a curved flange defining a pocket having an entrance opening, a pivotal support arranged at one side of the opening, ay stop lug provided at the other side o'l the opening, and a shoulder' formed on the inner face of. the flange in substantial horizontal alinement with the pivotal support, the said movable member having an outwardly extending arcuatesliaped hook or lug adapted. to enter the opening of the iixed member and provided on its inner face with spaced pivotal seats, and a terminal nose adapted to bear beneath the said shoulder when the movable member is in one position with the pivoted support located in one of the seats, and to abut against the aforesaid stop lug at the other si de of the entrance opening when the movable member is in the other position with the pivoted support located in the other seat.

6. A device of the class described comprising a movable member having an outwardly extending hook or lug formed thereon, pivotal seats provided along one side of the hook or lug and a terminal nose formed at ene end thereof, and a coacting stationary member having inwardly extending arcuate flanges or walls Yformed thereon defining a pocket, said pocket having an entrance opening to receive the outwardly extending lug or hook, a pivotal support termed by an upward extension of the arcuate lange and rounded to fit one of the said pivotal seats and forming one side of the entrance opening, a shoulder provided on the inner `face ci" the arcuate flange substantially in a hori- Zontal plane with the pivotal support and adapted to receive said nose when the movable member is in one position with the pivotal support located in the first pivotal seat, and a stop lug located on the arcuate ilange at the other side of the entrance opening and adapted to form a stop for the nose hen the movable member is in a second position and the pivotal support located in the second seat.

7. A device of the class described comprising a movable head-rest carrying a plate at each end, said plate being` provided with a lug or hook having seats formed therein and a nose at the end, other plates secured to the stationary seat frame and each provided with a pocket, having an entrance opening to receive the said lug or hook, a shoulder formed therein to coact with said nose, and a pivotal support adapted to enter one or the other of said. sea-ts to maintain the pivotal connection with the movable head-rest in elevated or lowered position upon the manipulation of the head-rest.'

S. A device of the class described comprising a movable head-rest, simporting members carried by the ends of the head-rest, stationary members secured to the seat and enacting with the supporting members to support and lock the head-rest in lowered position, said members being constructed to permit of the swinging movement of the head-rest into an elevated position and retain the same in such position in order to form a shelf, and to` permit of the withdrawal of the supporting members from engagement with the stationary members.

9. A device of the class described, comprising a movable head-rest, supporting members carried by the head-rest and including a hook, stationary members secured to the seat and including a. keeper, said keeper and hook having means to support and lock the head-rest in lowered position and having other means to permit of the swinging movement of the head-rest into an elevated position and retain it in such position, the keeper and hook being constructed to permit the withdrawal of the one from the other.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANK VANEK. Witnesses:

ELLEN SPEARs HARRIS, W. R. BRIDGES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, 'by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

